The NWU Business School’s MBA & PhD Graduation Celebration 2026 took place on Monday, 1 June 2026, at the prestigious The Feather Hill venue, just outside Potchefstroom. Hosted under the theme Black and White Soirée, the event brought together more than 200 guests for an evening of elegance, recognition and celebration.
Set in a grand and sophisticated venue, the annual celebration honoured the achievements of the NWU Business School’s MBA and PhD graduates, while also recognising outstanding academic performance, leadership and applied business excellence among its students.
In his message to the graduates, Prof Joseph Sekhampu, Chief Director of the NWU Business School, reflected on the demanding journey behind every qualification. He described the graduation as “the culmination of years of commitment, sacrifice, resilience, and personal growth”, noting that each graduate’s journey required courage, discipline and perseverance.
Prof Sekhampu also reminded graduates that academic achievement is only one part of their future contribution. “Qualifications may open doors,” he stated, “but it is character, integrity, wisdom, and humanity that ultimately determine the impact you will have in the world.”
The evening’s keynote address was delivered by Prof Bismark Tyobeka, Principal & Vice-Chancellor of the North-West University. A distinguished academic and leader, Prof Tyobeka has held several prominent positions in higher education, nuclear sciences and engineering, both in South Africa and internationally. His presence as keynote speaker added further prestige to an evening dedicated to postgraduate excellence and leadership.
“Tonight is also a celebration of resilience and dedication, and takes you to the next level of responsibility. If there was ever a time where the world and our country need capable and responsible leadership, it is now. We need you to make a difference. Our country remains a place of amazing opportunity, but we need ethical and courageous leadership. I encourage you to use your modern leadership skills to build enterprises, opportunities and solutions,” he said.
The programme also included a congratulatory message by Dr Lungile Ntsizwane, MBA Programme Leader at the NWU Business School, followed by the announcement of the evening’s award recipients.
Recognising MBA excellence
A key highlight of the evening was the presentation of the MBA awards, which recognised academic excellence, leadership, research and applied business learning.
- The MBA Student Ambassador 2025 award was presented to JT Mabina.
- The Best Mini Dissertation Award was presented to Yvette Labuschagne, who was also named the overall MBA Top Achiever 2025. This double recognition marked one of the standout achievements of the evening.
- The MBA Top Achiever Awards further recognised several high-performing students. The two third runners-up were SP Lombard and C Orton, while the three second runners-up were PF Blom, HP Van Vuuren and B Du Toit.
- The Best Company Project Award was shared between two groups, highlighting the importance of collaborative, practical and industry-relevant learning within the MBA programme.
The Alliance Group recipients were:
PF Janse van Rensburg, AW Muller, SP Lombard, HP Van Vuuren, M Van Breda, PF Blom and Yvette Labuschagne.
The Lions Group recipients were:
NL Sebabi, ZE Sandlana, SL Motaung, NS Gungubele, O Mosiane and BF Matshelane.
Celebrating the PhD graduates
The evening also paid special tribute to the NWU Business School’s PhD graduates, whose research reflects the breadth, relevance and societal importance of advanced scholarship in business, management, governance, finance, entrepreneurship, leadership and organisational development.
The PhD graduates recognised during the celebration were:
| PhD graduate | Promoter / study leader |
| Dr Debapriyo Nag | Prof Christo A Bisschoff and Prof Christoff J Botha |
| Dr Edward Khumalo | Prof Jan van Romburgh and Prof Jacqui-Lyn McIntyre |
| Dr Elmarie Hamman | Prof Gisele Mah |
| Dr Sumarie Nel | Prof Anet Smit |
| Dr Abdul Feroz Maluleke | Prof PA Botha |
| Dr Bafana Mkhwebane | Prof Hein Prinsloo |
| Dr Kutlwano Mukokomani | Prof Gisele Mah |
| Dr Maphidi Irene Mafokwane | Prof Nelda Mouton |
| Dr Johan Pretorius | Prof PA Botha |
| Dr Nomusa Dube | Prof Leon Jackson |
| Dr Peter Malekane Madike | Prof Christoff Botha and Prof Anna-Marie Pelser |
| Dr Bonginkosi Dladlama | Prof Nelda Mouton |
| Dr Bernard Ayuk Obasi | Prof Wedzerai Musvuto |
| Dr Matsepiso Jeminah Chalaste | Prof Ronnie Lotriet |
| Dr Stanley Ngobeni | Prof Anna-Marie Pelser |
| Dr Bongani Sibiya | Dr Johan Jordaan |
| Dr Xolie Ngubane | Prof Stephan van der Merwe |
| Dr Malebo Keebine | Prof PA Botha |
| Dr Moloti Mogashoa | Prof Kaizer Ndlovu |
| Dr Bangani Mpangalasane | Prof Jan Meyer |
Their research topics covered a wide range of contemporary and practical issues, including performance management, regulatory models, credit rating methodologies, internal auditing, technostress, entrepreneurship, corporate governance, personal finance management, work-life balance, women in leadership, bargaining frameworks, venture capital, SME competitiveness, insourcing, human resources management, business incubation, judicial wellness, lean facility management and integrated reporting readiness.
This strong research output reflected the NWU Business School’s commitment to producing scholarship that is not only academically rigorous, but also relevant to industry, institutions, communities and the broader South African and African context.
A celebration of perseverance, leadership and possibility
The evening concluded with a word of thanks by Prof Linda du Plessis, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Teaching and Learning at the NWU, followed by entertainment, dinner and networking.
The NWU Business School’s MBA & PhD Graduation Celebration 2026 was more than a formal recognition event. It was a celebration of perseverance, professional growth and the transformative role of postgraduate education.
As Prof Sekhampu expressed in his message, the graduates’ achievements represent “more than personal success”. They represent possibility, perseverance and the continuing hope that education remains one of the most powerful instruments for transformation, leadership and societal progress.
Against the elegant backdrop of The Feather Hill and the refined Black and White Soirée theme, the evening offered a fitting tribute to graduates, families, supervisors, academic leaders and all those who contributed to these remarkable academic journeys.
